Boston Pastor, Activist Charged With Shooting High School Student Over Drug Dispute

For years, the Rev. Shaun O. Harrison Sr. worked as the dean of students at Boston’s English High School. Harrison, known for short as “the Rev,” worked to end gang violence. He also played another role … as a drug dealer, according to police.

Harrison was arrested Tuesday on charges of shooting a 17-year-old student “execution-style” in the city’s Roxbury neighborhood after a drug deal went bad, the report says.

Arraigned in Roxbury District Court on Thursday, Harrison, 55, is accused of attempting to execute a student he had been mentoring at English, but was also allegedly selling marijuana as part of the pastor’s drug operation.

The reverend who organized gun buybacks and preached nonviolence, officials allege, was also running drugs and hiding gang tattoos below his clerical collar. He is charged with armed assault with intent to murder, aggravated assault and battery, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

In court, Suffolk Assistant District Attorney David Bradley described the alleged attack as an “execution-style shooting” of a teen who survived despite being shot behind the ear.

The teen worked for Harrison, who allegedly ran a marijuana distribution ring, police say. Mass Live reports:

Harrison is accused of running a marijuana distribution enterprise and enlisting the 17-year-old to work for him until a dispute between them culminated in Tuesday’s nonfatal shooting just blocks away from Harrison’s Roxbury home.

At his arraignment, Harrison denied charges of armed assault with intent to murder; aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; unlawful possession of a firearm; unlawful possession of ammunition; carrying a loaded firearm; discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling; and possession of a firearm in commission of a felony…

The 17-year-old, whom authorities haven’t publicly identified, said he sold marijuana for Harrison and had been promised “girls and weed” before Harrison shot him “execution-style” in the vicinity of 100 Magazine St., according to police and prosecutors.

Harrison, speaking to the Boston Globe through his lawyer, denied the charges. His sister Susan told the Globe that her brother is a good man who was set up.